Malaysia Surpass Best Haul in Commonwealth Youth Games

Published: Tuesday September 8, 2015 MYT 9:47:00 PM
Updated: Wednesday September 9, 2015 MYT 1:55:41 AM

Malaysia surpass best haul in Commonwealth Youth Games

Malaysian swimmer Wong Fu Kang won the 100m breast stroke event at the Singapore SEA Games in June. - The STAR filepic

PETALING JAYA: One made a big splash to create history, two flexed their muscles, and two others squashed their opponents.

And it resulted in Malaysia earning five gold medals – through Wong Fu Kang in swimming; Nur Atikah Mohd Sabri and Muhd Erry Hidayat in weightlifting; and Ng Eain Yow and S. Sivasangari in squash (pic, below) – at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa.

Nur Atikah got the ball rolling in the morning by winning the women’s 58kg weightlifting competition. Fu Kang doubled the joy by winning the men’s 100m breaststroke event for Malaysia’s first gold medal in swimming in the Games history.

Muhd Erry then sealed gold No. 3 for the day in the men’s 69kg category.

With squash’s two golds, Malaysia find themselves in fourth spot in the medal standings with a haul of 5-2-2 – surpassing their previous best of 4-2-1 achieved at the last Games in Isle of Man in 2011. Badminton, which contributed all four gold medals then, is not contested this time.

History-maker Fu Kang, 17, has yet to come to terms with his achievement.

“This win has not sunk in yet. I’m happy to maintain my performance level after the World Aquatics Championships in Kazan last month and the Singapore SEA Games in June.

“My aim is to get to the Olympics in Rio next year and I will keep on improving my personal best time,” said Fu Kang, who will compete in the men’s 50m breaststroke on Wednesday.

Fu Kang first made a name for himself at the Malaysian Open in Bukit Jalil in March after clocking 1:02.56 in 100m breaststroke to shatter 1998 Asian Games bronze medallist Elvin Chia’s national record of 1:02.59, which had stood since 2000.

Barely three months later, Fu Kang lowered it to 1:02.46 on his way to delivering the first swimming gold for Malaysia at the Singapore SEA Games.

Another Singapore SEA Games gold medallist Welson Sim missed out on getting a medal for Malaysia after he finished fourth in the men’s 100m freestyle in 51.15.

Welson had won silver medals in the 200m and 1,500m freestyle races on Monday.

Australian Vincent Dai splashed to gold in 50.26 while Scotland’s Craig Maclean took silver in 50.96.

The 14-year-old Nur Atikah was in smashing form in the weightlifting competition as she took gold with an overall total of 160kg – 33kg more than silver medallist Maria Mareta of Fiji.

Sixteen-year-old Muhd Erry bagged his weightlifting gold after lifting a total of 255kg.

Australia top the medal standings with 11-7-10, followed by South Africa (7-2-6) and England (5-8-7). A total of 53 countries are taking part in the Games, which cater to athletes aged between 14 and 18 years old.

Silver Glitters For Swimmer Welson in Samoa

PETALING JAYA: Young Malaysian swimmer Welson Sim set the pool alight with smashing performances as the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa.

The tireless Welson splashed his way to two silver medals – 200m and 1500m freestyle – on the opening day of swimming competition at the Tuana’imato Sports Facility yesterday.

Welson’s silver-medal time of 1:49.22 in the 200m saw him equal Daniel Bego’s national record set during the Laos SEA Games back in 2009.

Australian swimmer Clyde Lewis touched the wall ahead of the Malaysian for the gold medal in 1:48.88. England’s Kyle Chisholm took bronze in 1:51.21.

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The 18-year-old Welson hardly had time to catch his breath before was back in the pool for the 1,500m freestyle final. 

Welson, who won the 400m freestyle gold in the Singapore SEA Games in June, clocked 15:57.72 for his second silver of the night.

Tom Derbyshire of England splashed to the gold in 15:31.18 while Australia’s Tristan Ludlow (16:06.06) took bronze.

After an uninspiring debut at last month’s World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, where he failed to get anywhere near his personal best timings, the Sarawak-born swimmer was delighted to finish on the podium in the Commonwealth Youth Games, which cater to athletes aged between 14 and 18 years old.  

“I felt good going into this competition. I’ll try my best to win a medal in the 400m freestyle later, which is my pet event,” said Welson.  

National coach Paul Birmingham Thomas said that Welson’s time in the 200m freestyle would have been good for the bronze medal at the World Youth Championships in Singapore last month.

“We skipped the world junior meet to focus on the Commonwealth Youth Games. He did well to dip under the 1:50 barrier.

“Welson had about 30 minutes to rest between the 200m freesytle and the 1,500m freestyle races.

“He was not in a position to win ... we just wanted him to secure a medal.

“It’s tough to swim a 1,500m freestyle on the first day ... I could not have asked for more from him.”

Malaysia also got a bronze through weightlifter Ronny Jesos in the men’s 56kg competition. He lifted a total of 209kg to finish behind Pakistan’s Talha Talib (217kg) and India’s Jamjang Deru (237kg). 

Perfect Day For Dhabitah To Earn Olympic Ticket (updated)

Malaysian diver Nur Dhabitah Sabri in action in the 10m platform event at the Asian Cup in Bulit Jalil on Saturday. - FAIHAN GHANI/ The STAR

KUALA LUMPUR: Young diver Nur Dhabitah Sabri could not have asked for a better setting to check into next year’s Rio Olympic Games.

With her parents, Fadzidah Jaafar and Sabri Hashim, watching from the stands at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil, the 16-year-old qualified for the Olympics in stunning fashion – winning the women’s 10m platform individual final at the Asian Diving Cup.

Kuala Lumpur-born Dhabitah pulled off a superb final dive of 78.40 points to beat China’s Suo Miya to the gold medal with a five-dive total of 383.10.

The China girl did not have a clean entry in her final dive and relinquished her lead after collecting just 70.40 points. That saw her settle for the silver with a 380.10 total.

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Malaysia’s 2014 Youth Olympics silver medallist Loh Zhiayi took the bronze with 346.10 points.

Dhabitah, who rushed up the stands to celebrate with her parents, described the win as “unexpected” as she could only finish fourth with 314.05 points in the preliminaries on Saturday morning.

“My parents have been my biggest supporters all this while ... they’ve always believed that I would come good in diving one day,” said a teary-eyed Dhabitah, who won a bronze with Pandelela Rinong at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games last year.

“Without them, I don’t think I’d be here. They hardly see me in action as most of the competitions are outside the country ... and I think their presence here today comforted me. They gave me the thumbs-up sign each time I finished my dives.

“I didn’t want to disappoint them.

“I’m not celebrating yet as I still have one more event tomorrow (in women’s 3m springboard individual with Cheong Jun Hoong).”

The Asian Diving Cup is a continental qualifying event for the Olympics, but only the four individual winners – men’s and women’s 3m springboard and 10m platform – are assured of places in Rio.

Dhabitah is the fourth Malaysian diver to qualify for the Rio Olympics and Malaysia have now secured the maximum two slots in the women’s 10m individual platform, with Pandelela Rinong having made the cut at the World Aquatics Championships in Kazan last month.

Wendy Ng Yan Yee has qualified for the women’s 3m springboard while Ooi Tze Liang stole the limelight when he won the men’s 3m springboard competition here on Friday.

RESULTS

All finals

Men's 3m springboard synchro: 1. Kim Yeong-nam-Woo Ha-ram (Kor) 396.48, 2. Zhong Yuming-Huang Bowen (Chn) 379.02, 3. Adityo Restu Putra-Andriyan Andriyan (Ina) 336.21.

Men's 1m springboard individual: 1. Peng Jianfeng (Chn) 382.70, 2. Zhong Yuming (Chn) 358.10, 3. Woo Ha-ram (Kor) 345.90, 4. Muhd Syafiq Puteh (Mas) 320.75.

Women's 3m springboard synchro: 1. Xu Zhihuan-Wu Chunting (Chn) 297.90, 2. Jasmine Lai-Kam Ling Kar (Mas) 265.83, 3. Kim Na-mi-Kim Su-ji (Kor) 264.36.

Women's 10m platform individual: 1. Nur Dhabitah Sabri (Mas) 383.10, 2. Suo Miya (Chn) 380.10, 3. Loh Zhiayi (Mas) 346.10.

Mixed 10m platform synchro: 1. Tai Xiaohu-Lian Jie (Chn) 341.28, 2. Chew Yiwei-Traisy Vivien Tukiet (Mas) 296.82, 3. Son Tae-lang- Cho Eun-bi (Kor) 286.20.

Tze Liang Redeems Himself With Second Olympic Spot (updated)

National diver Ooi Tze Liang executing one of his dives in the 10m platform event at the Asian Diving Cup in Bukit Jalil on Sunday. - ROHAIZAT MD DARUS/ The STAR

KUALA LUMPUR: With just one plunge, Malaysian diver Ooi Tze Liang has laid to rest the ghosts that have been haunting him since the World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Russia last month.

It also earned him a second Olympic spot in the men’s 10m platform individual. He had won the 3m springboard contest in the Asian Diving Cup on Friday to earn a quota spot for next year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Competing in the 10m platform at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil on Sunday, Tze Liang executed his fourth dive – a three-and-a-half back somersault with a 3.3 difficulty degree – well to earn 74.25 points.

That was enough for the 20-year-old, who flunked the dive at the world meet in Kazan, to go on and win the event.

Tze Liang finished off with two more scores of 86.70 and 81.60 for a 482.15 total to hold off China’s Cao Lizhi.

His Chinese rival earned 83.20 for the last dive for a 481.60 total.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling nervous today. It’s not easy performing on home soil. I flunked the fourth dive at the world meet in Kazan last month and missed out on the semi-finals,” recalled Tze Liang.

“I got a very low score (only 24.75 points) ... I was so disappointed with myself.

“Thankfully, my execution was good in all six dives in the final today. I can’t be any happier.

“I have to thank my coaches, Asum (Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia) and NSC (National Sports Council) for guiding and supporting me to make this possible,” added the Penang-born Tze Liang, who just missed out on qualifying for the London Olympics in 2012.

Malaysia are now assured of representation in all four individual events for diving.

Malaysia have earned the maximum two spots for women’s 10m platform through Nur Dhabitah Sabri, the winner of the 10m platform on Saturday, and Pandelela Rinong, who qualified via the bronze she won at the world meet in Kazan.

Wendy Ng Yan Yee got her Olympic ticket in the women’s 3m springboard after finishing eighth in Kazan.

Nur Dbahitah could have made it a golden double for Malaysia on Sunday but came up just short.

The 16-year-old put up a good fight to take silver in the women’s 3m springboard final with 351.80 points.

China’s Wu Chunting won the event with 354.70 points while Cheong Jun Hoong, making her competitive comeback after recovering from heel injuries, took the bronze.

Dhabitah returned to the pool later to win another silver with Chew Yiwei in the team event. The pairing chalked up 364.35 points in the new event, which sees the divers taking turns to dive from the 3m springboard and 10m platform.

RESULTS (all finals)

MEN

10m platform individual: 1. Ooi Tze Liang (Mas) 482.15, 2. Cao Lizhi (Chn) 481.60, 3. Woo Ha-ram (Kor) 477.35. Selected: 7. Chew Yiwei (Mas) 329.30.

WOMEN

3m springboard individual: 1. Wu Chunting (Chn) 354.70, 2. Nur Dhabitah Sabri (Mas) 351.80, 3. Cheong Jun Hoong (Mas) 319.95.

Team event: 1. Bowen Huang-Si Yuji (Chn) 405.55, 2. Chew Yiwei-Nur Dhabitah Sabri (Mas) 364.35, 3. Kim Jin-yong-Ko Eun-ji (Kor) 339.30.

Dhabitah To Curb Jitters In Bid To Secure Olympic Spot

National diver Nur Dhabitah Sabri training at the National Aquatic Centre in preparation for the Asian Cup starting on Friday. - IBRAHIM MOHTAR/ The STAR

KUALA LUMPUR: Teenager Nur Dhabitah Sabri is hoping to keep her nerves in check as she bids to secure an early Olympic ticket in the Asian Diving Cup, which begins at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil on Friday.

The Cup is a continental qualifier for next year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics but only the four individual winners – men and women’s 3m springboard and 10m platform – will make the cut.

China have already secured their full quota of eight spots (two for each individual event) at the World Aquatics Championships in Russia in July, but they are still taking the Cup seriously.

The Chinese were the first of the foreign teams to arrive on Tuesday and diligently went through a training session in the morning.

With Cheong Jun Hoong just coming back from a heel injury, Malaysia’s hopes lie on Dhabitah in the women’s 3m springboard.

“I am using the same difficulties that I used at the worlds,” said Dhabitah.

“The pressure is on me to deliver. It’s not going to be easy as the Chinese are here. It’s important for me to stay calm and not make any mistakes,” said Dhabitah.

The 16-year-old admitted nerves got the better of her at the worlds where she failed to make the top-12 final.

Dhabitah finished 14th in the semi-finals to miss the cut for the Olympics. Compatriot Wendy Ng Yan Yee qualified for the Rio Games after reaching the final. Yan Yee eventually finished eighth.

“I came so close to making it to Rio. I was just two spots away. The coach (Yang Zhuliang) said I performed to my level, but I was still disappointed,” said the Kuala Lumpur-born Dhabitah, who partnered Pandelela Rinong to win the bronze in the 10m platform synchro at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games last year.

Dhabitah and Jun Hoong main rivals will be China’s Wu Chunting and Liu Tian.

Chunting won the gold at the Mexico leg of the Diving Grand Prix in April while Liu Tian grabbed silver at the World University Games in Gwangju, South Korea, in July.

Besides China and Malaysia, the other countries participating are South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Macau and Qatar.